Treasures from Chatsworth
EPISODE 13 – MASTERWORKS IN SILVER

Conceived by Sotheby’s and presented by Huntsman, ‘Treasures from Chatsworth’ celebrates the Cavendish family’s centuries-long passion for art and collecting.

Conceived by Sotheby’s and presented by Huntsman, ‘Treasures from Chatsworth’ celebrates the Cavendish family’s centuries-long passion for art and collecting.

The partnership between Huntsman and the Sotheby’s series, strikes a chord with the heritage that Huntsman represents . The way in which contemporary designs are influenced by those of previous generations of craftsmen resonates with the stories that Sotheby’s has woven through this series of films.

Watch Episode 13 of Treasures from Chatsworth, Presented by Huntsman and Produced by Sotheby’s

UPDATING A CLASSIC TIMEPIECE

A watch is about so much more than timekeeping. It’s an expression of taste, lifestyle, history even. The more iconic the make and model, the more likely it is to become inextricably linked with renowned individuals. Take the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. First designed for racing drivers in 1963, its combination of chronograph and tachymeter mean you can measure average speeds up to 400 miles/km per hour. You can also keep track of ticking seconds, as well as lapsed hours and minutes on the counters in the centre. It was for these reasons that Joanne Woodward gave her husband Paul Newman a rare version of the watch in 1972, the year the actor first took part in a professional event as a racer.

The Huntsman Rolex, with the tailor’s distinctive claret branding

Newman continued to compete into his eighties, mainly driving Datsuns in the road racing TransAm series in the US. He also, apparently, was never seen without his Rolex Daytona. As his ownership of the watch became more widely known, the details of his specific model became more popular. These were most notably its distinctive counters, with their bold numbers and block markers. Over the years, the Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman’ has become one of the most sought-after watches in the world.

The rarity and cache of this classic model has in turn inspired another development in the Daytona’s history. When George Bamford realised that the model he’d longed for (vintage, steel black dial, Rolex Daytona Zenith movement, with inverted 6 9 sub dial) was being worn by many of his acquaintances he started to think how he could make it special again. Working with a materials engineer at the family’s business, JCB, he discovered how to apply coatings to existing Rolexes using a process from the mining industry. This opened up a whole new world of customisation: of colours, finishes and other features.

The Huntsman Rolex pictured with Huntsman Tweed

Such was the demand for these personalised pieces, Bamford turned his idea into a business. One of Bamford Watch Department’s earliest customers was financier, Pierre Lagrange. “I bought one of the first black Rolexes George Bamford ever made, maybe 13 years ago. It’s part of the gentleman’s lifestyle, to have a precious watch. And for that piece to be so unique makes it even more special.”

Fast forward ten years. Lagrange becomes the chairman of the bespoke tailors, Huntsman, and discovers that Paul Newman had long been a customer. The connection was too significant to go unmarked. He decided to pay homage to the legendary actor with a new version of the Daytona.

A Huntsman pattern used to create a suit for Paul Newman

Working together with Bamford, he wanted to create something very simple and discreet: “A little like a Huntsman coat, beautiful and balanced.” The end result brings Huntsman red claret into the traditional Daytona dial, and the tailor’s logo is there too – unassuming yet present. “I want people to recognise it as a ‘Paul Newman’ but then see that it’s subtly different.”

For Lagrange, the exercise has been one more for pleasure than anything else. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the number of Huntsman Rolexes that will be available on a bespoke basis: “Eleven, for 11 Savile Row.”